COMBINED THERAPY FOR ANGIOIMMUNOPROLIFERATIVE LESIONS

43 patients with a diagnosis of angioimmunoproliferative lesions (AIL) entered onto a prospective clinical trial to evaluate the use of comb ined therapy as a primary therapeutic approach. Patients were treated initially with involved field radiotherapy 40-55 Gy (40 patients recei ved 45 Gy) followed by six cycles of chemotherapy which consisted of C EOP-Bleo (cyclophosphamide, epirubin, vincristine, prednisone and bleo mycin). Complete response was achieved in 41 cases (95%). At a median follow-up of 40 months, 40 patients (91%) remain in first complete rem ission. 2 patients died during radiotherapy secondary to sepsis and tu mour progression. Treatment was well tolerated. The treatment of AIL r emains controversial. Our results show that combined therapy appears t o be the best therapeutic approach in patients with this type of malig nant lymphoma. More studies are necessary to define the role of combin ed therapy in patients with AIL.